PROJECT MANAGEMENT

How deep is your bench?
Do you have enough employees to cover your department’s workload? Do long-term goals and everyday work slip when special projects pop up?
That’s when clients call me. I have great working relationships with busy managers who need an occasional pinch-hitter.

In my career I have worked as a communications staff person, special projects manager, and as the department leader. Rolling with the challenges of a busy workplace is natural for me; I’ve been there before.

When pinch-hitting for overloaded departments, I have found a few formulas that work well:

1. For large projects, I can do a specific job on a project team.
A client recently refreshed its visual identity and branding efforts. This caused changes in document handling and company name usage for 10,000 employees.
I was hired as part of a project team to create a new hard copy manual and intranet mini-site to convey all of the changes and instructions for the new company identity. The team included a graphic designer, the creative director, the communications manager, intranet content owners, and other internal staff.
My responsibilities as the lead writer included managing all writing and editing for print and screen, requirements-gathering, and user testing for screen design prototypes.

2. For smaller projects, I can do project work and manage the team.
A communications manager asked me to manage writing and production of her organization’s newsletter from start to finish.
I conducted all interviews and wrote all of the stories. I assigned the photographer and art-directed all photo shoots. I worked with the graphic designer to fine-tune layout drafts. I managed executive reviews and approvals, then consolidated and supervised all copy changes. Finally, I confirmed delivery of the approved project to the printer.

3. I cover routine assignments during busy times.
A former employer hired me to keep momentum going on departmental work while he filled key staff positions. We agreed on the scope of work and deliverables that would be finished during my contract, and then I got to work.

While these scenarios are typical of the way I work, I’m flexible. Talk to me about your project and we’ll see if there is a fit.